- In his post-football career, Tom Brady hosted an extraordinary auction at Sotheby’s.
- The centrepiece was the Rolex John Player Special Daytona Paul Newman Ref: 6241, which fetched $1,140,000 USD.
- Brady’s affection for IWC was evident with six watches auctioned, led by the Big Pilot’s Ref: IW5036-05 ($72,000 USD).
NFL all-timer Tom Brady is seemingly in a fundraising round in his post-football career after hanging up his boots in 2023. The seven-time Super Bowl winner will undoubtedly go down in history as the greatest to ever do it; a titan of the game that left his mark on the sport.
Throughout his career, though, Tom Brady has always been the biggest watch guys in sport, collecting rare and unique pieces from Cartier, Rolex and IWC to build an enviable collection of luxury timepieces.
It’s hard to say how many the NFL GOAT has accumulated throughout the years, but it seems he has enough to spare with his latest offering at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, selling as many as 21 rare pieces for auction in The GOAT Collection: Watches & Treasures from Tom Brady, earning himself a cool $7 million AUD in the process.
In total, Brady parted with 6 IWCs, 5 Rolex, 3 each of Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, and finally one Tudor. Within the collection was a series of memorabilia from Brady’s career, including record-breaking jerseys from his time with the Buccaneers and New England Patriots, signed super bowl hats, shoulder pads, Super Bowl XLIX cuff links, boots, helmets and even a signed ball that he threw to break the all-time passing yard record (which fetched a staggering $216,000 USD).
But naturally, we’re interested in his incredible watch collection. From Portugeisers to Pateks, Rolex to Royal Oaks, Tom Brady clearly isn’t missing any of his shots with his timepiece portfolio. Let’s break down some of our favourites from the collection:
Tom Brady Loves a Rolex
Brady, like the rest of us, clearly has a soft spot for the classics in haute horlogerie, offering with as many as five Rolex pieces in this New York auction. Highlights include GMT II Master Batman and a platinum Day-Date which both took $60,000 USD and $168,000 USD, respectively. Known as the “President’s Watch,” it’s a fitting piece for someone like Brady, who has reigned supreme in his field for decades.
Elsewhere in the collection, Brady revealed the standout Rolex John Player Special Daytona Paul Newman Ref: 6241, a rare Rolex piece that he’s never before revealed to the public. Of course, this was the centrepiece of Brady’s personal collection, first worn by the NFL star during the 2023 season, notably at a ceremony at Gillette Stadium where the New England Patriots honoured him during their home opener. This fetched a jaw-dropping $1,140,000 USD (~$1,776,000 AUD).
Three Richard Mille Were Made Available
Brady’s collection included three Richard Mille watches, a brand synonymous with avant-garde design, cutting-edge technology and an enduring relationship with the world of sports, partnering with this year’s Constructors’ Champions McLaren in F1.
The Richard Mille Baby Nadal Ref: RM35-03 FQ was arguably the most intriguing of the trio: a 2010 release that recognises one of the greatest tennis players of a generation, Rafael Nadal. It was also the most expensive Richard Mille on the night, selling for $384,000 USD (~$598,000 AUD).
Special mentions go to the Richard Mille Carbon TPT Titanium Skeletonised Ref: RM11-03 CA, a cornerstone of the collection since its launch in 2007. This model takes its inspiration from Felipe Massa, a Brazilian giant of Formula 1, engineered specifically for performance. This sold for $336,000 USD.
Rounding our the RM releases was the Richard Mille Titanium Split Seconds Ref: RM65-01 which went under the hammer for a modest $288,000 USD.
IWC’s Movements Were Enough to Convince Brady to Collect
A self-professed fan of IWC, you’d hope that Brady had more Pilot’s and Portugeisers at home after the American all-star auctioned off six pieces at the Sotheby’s auction.
Pieces included the IWC Big Pilot’s Ref: IW5036-05 ($72,000 USD), IWC Pilot’s Watch Ref: IW3881-02, ($72,000 USD), IWC Portugeiser Ref: IW5022-18 ($60,000 USD) and the IWC Ref: IW5007-01 Portugeiser ($45,600 USD), IWC Pilots Watch Ref: IW3891-04 ($42,000 USD) and the IWC Pilot Watch Ref: IW5010-02 Le Petit Prince, sold for $28,800 USD.
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Although these pieces don’t command the same price point as some of the others in Brady’s collection, they’re still a reflection of his love affair with horological movements.
Patek Philippe: The Pinnacle of Traditional Watchmaking
The Patek Philippe TBXII Grand Complication Tiffany & Co. Yellow Gold, which sold for $264,000 USD is the definition of luxury and sophistication, considered by many to be the pinnacle of traditional watchmaking.
To qualify, a grand complication must have an astronomical function, such as a perpetual calendar with moon phases, a minute repeater and a chronograph function. Brady’s model is one of just 100 Grand Complication Patek Philippe watches that have surfaced since 1874 – a rare find for any collector.
“I’ve always had deep appreciation for vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches. The 1518 is special because it was the first perpetual calendar chronograph produced in series. Its design and historical importance make it a true classic.”
Tom Brady
Equally impressive was the First Series Ref: 3970, which went for $312,000 USD, underscoring Brady’s appreciation for historic and high-complication timepieces. The final Patek, a Nautilus Ref: 3700/11, sold for $132,000 USD.
Audemars Piguet is Tom Brady’s New Money Investment
Tom Brady’s Royal Oak The Roast Ref: 26730BC.ZZ.1320BC.99, was the pick of the Audemars Piguet models, selling for an outrageous $720,000 USD – the second highest of the entire collection. This one-off piece was worn by Brady during the filming of his Netflix special The Roast of Tom Brady, combining the innate heritage of an AP Royal Oak with the contemporary appeal that Brady possesses.
The Royal Oak 50th Anniversary Ref: 26240ST.OO.1320ST.04, which fetched $114,000 USD, and the Royal Oak Offshore Pink Gold Ref: 261700R.OO.10000R.01, sold for $102,000 USD, both exquisite pieces in their own right, rounded out the Audemars Piguet offerings.
Brady’s Tudor Rounds Out the Collection
The final lot was the Tudor Heritage Black Bay 58 Friends of Hodinkee Ref: 79030, which sold for $36,000 USD, exceeding its estimation of $10,000 USD. Limited to just 100 pieces, this Tudor piece shakes the reputation as Rolex’s more affordable sibling – a sought-after collaboration with Hodinkee which had significant collector appeal when it was released in 2019.
